Focus. Breathe. In. Out. In. Ou…

"I love you Morizonuka Takashi. I've loved you since the day we met."

Mori's eyes snapped open. Three days and he had not been able to focus for longer than that. Meditation had not been enough to restore his inner peace, he needed something more.

Still wearing his Yukata, he left the reflection room, slipped on some sandals and headed off across the backyard. The sun was just rising as he passed out of the formal landscaped gardens and into the uncultivated lightly forested area, skirted the pond, and crossed the invisible line that marked the boundary between the Morinozuka and Haninozuka estates. As he neared the Haninozuka main house he came to a tree that had once held branches low enough to tempt a six-year-old to climb.

Mori kicked off his shoes, grabbed a branch and swung himself up - climbing as high as the branches would allow. This was his most sacred place, where he always found himself when a problem was too difficult or his emotions too unsettled. The last time he had been compelled to come here was right before graduation his senior year.

He settled himself within the branches, closed his eyes and breathed in the scent of the dew on the grass and leaves – stealing some of the peace held by the tree and settling it around himself. The sound of birds waking and leaves rustling brought a deeper tranquility. Bolstered by a strength drawn from something bigger than himself, he turned his thoughts towards the girl who wouldn't leave his mind.

Sitting like this, thinking of the past, he could feel her presence. Kaori and his memories of her were intertwined with serenity he'd always found in this place. This tree had been special to him long before he met her. It had been his retreat during the difficult days of his mother's illness and death. By unspoken agreement among the cousins it had belonged to him and him alone until the day he had seen that fierce little girl looking up at it with intense longing. Her joy in the simplest of freedoms had been so bright he couldn't help but welcome her into what had been his sanctuary.

He could feel the walls he had constructed to keep their relationship platonic crumbling. There was no way he could continue to believe he cared for her only as a childhood friend or honorary relative. Looking back at that last summer together, he could see his sub-conscious had already realized it. There was a reason why he had never been the one to make the first move in the five years of silence between them.

The question remained – what was he going to do?

What could he do?

What did he want to do?

"Clear away the complexities" he ordered himself.

It was something he'd learned from Kendo. Continually take away until only the simplest of movements is left. Focus on your objective, discard all distractions and outside influences, cease worrying about things you could not control, look for your opportunity, and then act.

He picked through all concern, risks, and doubts until he found the only things that could not be overcome or dismissed. In the end there were only two. The first was within his control, the second something that could be resolved later

Soon it would be Obon and they would all return to the home village to visit the graves of the Morinozuka family. He would ask his ancestors for their guidance and protection in this, beg for forbearance at the graves of the Haninozuka's, and then he would do what needed to be done.

About three weeks later, around late August

The first person showed up during his morning strength training.

"Hi Takashi, Rei-chan and I are back from Hawaii!" Honey bounded into the room looking tanned after his month-long honeymoon.

Mori didn't bother to stop his one armed push-ups. "97…98…99…"

"I got your letter." His cousin waved a folded rectangular piece of paper then bounded up in front of Mori's head and crouched down, peering into his face with wide innocent eyes. "Are you sure about this Takashi?"

"I'm sure."

Mori switched to his other arm and continued. "1...2…3…"

Honey placed his arms on his knees and cupped his face in his hands. "What would you do if I asked you pretty please not to do this?" His voice dripped with flowers but there was a hint of sharpness underneath.

Mori froze up on one arm, his eyes silently pleading that the man he had always served would not put him to the test by turning that into a command.

Honey's eyes narrowed as their gazes locked. "I have to take this seriously; you know. Are you prepared for what I may have to do?" Now only the sharpness remained in his voice.

"I'm prepared."

Honey jumped up and grinned happily. "Well, if you're sure - I'm supposed to tell you we accept your challenge, 14:00 Sunday, you know where."

Honey turned to leave, waving over his shoulder in he called out in a voice suggestive of command, "Do your best, Takashi!"

"I intend to." He didn't have any other choice. "26...27...28…"

The next one arrived just before his evening practice.

"Onii-san, are you sure about this?" Satoshi burst into the room looked panicked. He'd just heard the news from Yasuchika and had come running straight from class.

Mori didn't bother to stop his warm up stretches. "13...14…15…" He counted as he moved back and forth between left and right leg stretches.

"I'm sure."

Mor moved into a wide leg stretch. "1…2…3…"

"Why? There have to be other ways. You don't need to be so…so… traditional about it!" The boy looked like he was about to hyperventilate.

Mori stopped and rose up to standing. He walked over and reached out to put his hand on his brother's shoulder. Satoshi would be most affected should this fail, he deserved some explanation.

"This is the only way that both families will approve. I had no other choice."

Satoshi hung his head and reached his hand out to Mori's bicep so their arms were intertwined. "I know. I know. Bunch of hide-bound, narrow-minded..." Mori squeezed his brother shoulder and gave him a sharp look. Satoshi stepped back and held up his hands in mock surrender. "Okay, I get it. Respect my elders, no matter how much I think they're…." He stopped again at Mori's grunt of warning, crossed his arms and gave a deep sigh. "I support you, Onii-san. I'll be your sparring partner until the match; it's not like I can let you lose."

Satoshi headed towards the changing area, calling over his shoulder "You better do your best, Onii-san."

"I intend to." Mori resumed his stretching. "1…2…3…"

The final one was sipping tea on the engawa, waiting for Mori to come back from his nightly run.

"Son, are you sure about this?" asked Akira while handing his son a towel and bottle of water.

Mori mopped his face and drank deep.

"I'm sure."

"Did it have to come to this? You know I would have supported you."

That had never been the issue. "Would the rest of them?"

Akira dropped his gaze and shook his head. "No, you're right. There are those who never would have agreed. The Haninozuka's, too, might have been a problem, but Yorihisa would have supported you." He sounded wistful that he had not been allowed to try another way first. "Neither of us is very happy with this, but if you are set on it then it is probably the only way."

Mori sat next to his father and the two men sipped their drinks in silence.

"I met her during the wedding," said Akira, "sweet girl, very kind. You've made a good choice."

Mori smiled in acknowledgement, it was the closest thing to a blessing he could ask for or receive.

Mori finished his drink and stood up to head inside for a bath. As he walked off, Akira called after him "I know you'll do your best, son."

Mori turned to look his father in the eye and gave a nod.

Akira looked fondly at his heir and, despite his apprehension, he was filled with pride. His child had grown up into an honorable young man; someone who would not draw back from his duty to his family even if it meant walking the more difficult path. "Keiko, I hope you are proud of our son," he whispered fervently, "please, do not let him fail."

A/N: I've mostly been showing things from Kaori's perspective until now, with bits of Mori's so as to peek into his thoughts. Writing this chapter I started to explore how I see his character and am taking it and his backstory places outside of the Manga/Anime. Since he doesn't talk much and doesn't explain himself, I've decided to do a lot of thinking on his behalf rather than let other characters interpret him. Please review and let me know what you think!

Any writing feedback greatly appreciated, this is my first extensive foray into fiction (vs. non-fiction) and I feel like each chapter I'm learning more 'tricks.' I'm working on showing, not telling and hope I'm not leaving too many explanations out. Let me know how you think I'm doing – I'm a big girl, I can take it.

Extra: As I finished writing the next chapter, a couple folks who were feeling neglected decide to pay me a visit.

Hikaru:Hey, author-lady, we heard everyone else is going to be in the next chapter – what about us?

Kaoru: Yeah, where's the love?

Me: Well, you were mentioned in a couple of the previous chapters…

H: Just the one.

K: And you kind of made us look like perverts.

Me: Okay, your choice, you can show up and attend a glorified karate match or I can send you off to Europe for the summer where you can chase models.

(Sounds of suitcase lids snapping)

H&K: Bye author-lady, tell Mori-sempai to do his best!

Me: Well, I'm sure he intends to.